About Us
Kelly Meneer, Artistic Director
Kelly Meneer has been a part of Ballet Theatre of Ohio since it premiered The Nutcracker at the Akron Civic Theatre in 1993. Ms. Meneer began her ballet training at the age of 2 with her mother at the Meneer School of Dance. As a soloist with BTO, Ms. Meneer danced several lead roles with the company and later originated roles such as Carabosse in Sleeping Beauty and The Sea Witch in BTO’s The Little Mermaid. She also had the pleasure of co-choreographing and co-designing The Little Mermaid and most recently designed and choreographed BTO's newest full-length ballet, Beauty & the Beast, which debuted in 2024.
A BFA graduate of Kent State University, Ms. Meneer lived and performed in New York City for eight years. She has performed in classics such as West Side Story, A Chorus Line, 42nd Street, Chicago, and Cabaret and has premiered several plays in theaters throughout NYC. Ms. Meneer has choreographed Sister Act and 9 to 5 for Porthouse Theatre and has taught summer dance classes at her alma mater, KSU, as an adjunct professor.
She is currently on staff at the Meneer School of Dance and takes great pride in and gets much enjoyment from teaching children and is inspired everyday by their hard work and many talents.
Christine Meneer, Founder & Retired Executive Director
Christine Meneer, founded Ballet Theatre of Ohio (BTO) in 1993. BTO is best known to Northeast Ohioans for producing the magical holiday performances of The Nutcracker at the Akron Civic Theatre. Voted “Akron’s Favorite Holiday Show” by Akron Beacon Journal readers, BTO’s Nutcracker attracts the largest audience for any single event at the Akron Civic Theatre.
Ms. Meneer opened her own dance studio, the Meneer School of Dance, in Munroe Falls, which is now in its 38th season. The school accepts students ages 3 - 18 who want excellent dance training in ballet, jazz and tap. All dancers, with the exception of professional guest artists in all BTO productions are trained at the Meneer School of Dance. The Meneer School is also home to a dance competition team for students wishing to pursue jazz, tap, or contemporary dance.
Ms. Meneer also serves as the resident choreographer and costume designer for BTO. In addition to The Nutcracker, she has produced six other full-length story ballets - Cinderella, Coppelia, Sleeping Beauty, The Wizard of Oz, The Little Mermaid, and Beauty & the Beast. She is the proud recipient of the 2015 Margaret Clark Morgan IMPACT Award for Excellence in the Arts and the 2007 Arts Alive! Award for Outstanding Artist in Dance presented by the Akron Area Arts Alliance.
Christine Meneer officially retired from BTO after the final performance of The Little Mermaid, on Sunday, May 4. She continues to run her dance studio, Meneer School of Dance.
Board of Trustees
President - Matt Snyder
Vice President - Dan Hendrock
Treasurer - Lea Dudones